NU Library Newsletter
Fall Semester:
September 2026
Fall Semester:
September 2026
We’re excited to share the September 2026 edition of the Library Newsletter.
On September 5, Kazakhstan celebrated the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan. To mark this occasion, this issue commemorates the richness of languages and linguistic diversity, with a special focus on language, linguistics, and multilingual education resources available through the Library. Alongside these features, discover key library resources, services, and tools to support your studies, research, and academic journey throughout the semester.
On September 5, Kazakhstan celebrated the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan. To mark this occasion, this issue commemorates the richness of languages and linguistic diversity, with a special focus on language, linguistics, and multilingual education resources available through the Library. Alongside these features, discover key library resources, services, and tools to support your studies, research, and academic journey throughout the semester.
Celebrating the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan
On September 5, Kazakhstan celebrates the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan - a day that recognizes the country’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity and highlights the importance of preserving and promoting its many languages.
In celebration of this day, discover the NU Library’s selection of resources dedicated to languages, linguistics, literature, and multilingual education. Whether you are learning a new language, exploring the history of Kazakh and other languages, or interested in multilingualism and language education, our collection offers resources to support your academic and personal interests.
In celebration of this day, discover the NU Library’s selection of resources dedicated to languages, linguistics, literature, and multilingual education. Whether you are learning a new language, exploring the history of Kazakh and other languages, or interested in multilingualism and language education, our collection offers resources to support your academic and personal interests.
Book Exhibition "Languages: Connecting Cultures"
Discover the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Kazakhstan through our special book exhibition dedicated to the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan. Featuring books on languages, literature, and cultural traditions, the exhibition celebrates diversity, multilingualism, and the power of language to connect people.
Explore the collection in the Library catalog.
Explore the collection in the Library catalog.
Library Interview
Bridget Goodman is an Associate Professor at the NU Graduate School of Education, where she coordinates the MA in Multilingual Education program and serves as the School's Library Liaison. Her research, teaching, and supervision interests focus on multilingual education, translanguaging, and language policy, with particular attention to English-medium education in Eurasia and Central Asia, the use of multiple languages in and beyond the classroom, and the intersections of language and race in Kazakhstan and beyond.
To mark the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan, we asked her about multilingualism as a resource rather than a barrier in higher education.
*Interview conducted by Venera Niyazbayeva, TLSO.
To mark the Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan, we asked her about multilingualism as a resource rather than a barrier in higher education.
*Interview conducted by Venera Niyazbayeva, TLSO.
“It starts with teachers', staff members', and administrators' belief system. They need to be encouraged to see their own multilingualism and the multilingual backgrounds of their students as an advantage and a resource.”
A Conversation with Prof. Bridget Goodman
It starts with teachers', staff members', and administrators' belief system. They need to be encouraged to see their own multilingualism and the multilingual backgrounds of their students as an advantage and a resource. If they believe that one language, or the lack of knowledge of one language, inhibits or interferes with learning, they are likely to restrict the use of other languages for communication or learning in the classroom. Of course, some teachers have this belief but still allow their students to use other languages because they see the practical benefits of doing so. Other teachers and administrators can follow this example by not setting rules of "one language only" or "one language at a time." Instead, they can encourage comparisons across languages, host events on campus that celebrate different languages, and acknowledge and respect each individual student's language capacities as a starting point to grow from.
It's easier for me to identify exclusive policies such as "speak English" or "think in English." I'm co-authoring a paper with a friend, a former student, who told me that even saying a few words in Mandarin to her helped create an inclusive space for her. For me it was symbolic: I didn't need Mandarin to communicate, but I used it to show respect. You do not have to be fluent in a student's language to treat it inclusively. You can say a few words, or let the student teach you a few words in their preferred language, and thereby show that it is a resource for teaching and learning. An inclusive space also lets students share their diverse experiences with languages and work through them in the classroom.
As the great bilingual education scholar Ofelia García said a long time ago, it's not an "either-or" situation, it's a "both-and" situation. Students and teachers in multilingual education settings should not feel they have to choose between developing English and valuing their own language. Mother tongue knowledge can support English-language development, and knowledge developed in English can ideally be shared in local languages as well. We are finding in Kazakhstan that as students develop higher proficiency in English, they rely on mother tongues less, or are better able to see which language practices transfer across languages and which do not. This speaks to the need to encourage pedagogical practices that maintain Kazakh language and values while still supporting the current generation of students in their language learning journey.
Both Caress Shenk of NU and I have written about decolonizing the curriculum. This means including scholars from diverse backgrounds, not only those based in the U.S., the UK, and Australia. It also means designing assessments that allow or encourage the use of multiple languages, not only in the process of completing an assignment but in the product itself. I recall research at NUGSE reporting on a teacher who asked students to create a website in three languages, achieving the learning goals while contributing to development across languages for a real-world purpose.
Library Workshops & Consultations
The library regularly hosts open sessions that help students and researchers navigate the academic and research process more effectively. Topics include open access publishing, research data management, copyright and Creative Commons, reference management, scholarly communication, and the NU Repository. These sessions are open to all and aim to strengthen research skills through practical guidance and hands-on support.
Can’t make it to the library today? Ask our virtual librarian on duty, NURIA, to book a virtual appointment. Or, stop by our offices at the Main Library, 5E.322, 5E.323, or 5E.324, to speak with our Liaison and Research Support Librarians. You can also visit NU SoM, Floor 7, Office 702.
Can’t make it to the library today? Ask our virtual librarian on duty, NURIA, to book a virtual appointment. Or, stop by our offices at the Main Library, 5E.322, 5E.323, or 5E.324, to speak with our Liaison and Research Support Librarians. You can also visit NU SoM, Floor 7, Office 702.
Research & Academic Support
Research Support
The NU Library continues to provide personalized, one-to-one research support to help you succeed academically, whether you’re planning your thesis or an article for publication. Our librarians are here to support you in publishing, managing, and preserving your research outputs.
Visit the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5e, Office 324) to meet our Research Support Librarians, or contact us at library@nu.edu.kz.
Prefer online support? Book a virtual appointment, or explore our 24/7 LibGuides to navigate resources anytime, anywhere.
Your research success is our priority. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Visit the Main Library (Floor 3, Block 5e, Office 324) to meet our Research Support Librarians, or contact us at library@nu.edu.kz.
Prefer online support? Book a virtual appointment, or explore our 24/7 LibGuides to navigate resources anytime, anywhere.
Your research success is our priority. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
New Trial Database
Explore newly available trial databases at NU Library and discover additional academic resources to support your research, learning, and scholarly work. These databases provide access to valuable information across a range of subjects and disciplines.
We are pleased to inform the NU community that pilot access to the CAS BioFinder Discovery Platform is available from September 14 through November 14, 2026. The resource has been added to the A-Z List.
CAS BioFinder brings together comprehensive pharmaceutical data and advanced solutions to support drug discovery research, including discovery biology and medicinal chemistry. The platform provides access to data that can be searched by ligand, target, and disease, supported by predictive technologies and knowledge graphs.
CAS BioFinder brings together comprehensive pharmaceutical data and advanced solutions to support drug discovery research, including discovery biology and medicinal chemistry. The platform provides access to data that can be searched by ligand, target, and disease, supported by predictive technologies and knowledge graphs.
Read Guides in Your Own Language
All Library Guides (LibGuides) now include a language switcher, letting readers translate any guide into Russian or Kazakh. Look for the "Select Language" menu at the top of any guide page. Because automated translation of Kazakh is still imperfect, key terminology and instructions are being manually reviewed on our most-used guides, and a short disclaimer next to the switcher explains the limits of machine translation. Most guides are written in English, so the tool is meant as a bridge for readers who prefer to start in Russian or Kazakh rather than a full replacement for the English original.
Databases, Journals, and LibGuides for Languages and Linguistics
The Library's LibGuides site has a dedicated Literature & Languages section with six guides for anyone studying language, literature, or linguistics:
- Languages, Linguistics, and Literatures: Starting Your Library Search - a general starting point for finding books, articles, and reference sources in these fields.
- Linguistics: Start Your Research With Concepts - a concept-based approach to building search strategies for linguistics topics.
- Kazakh Language, Literature and Culture
- Turkic Languages
- Mythology and Folklore
- HST 274 / WLL 274: Texts and Contexts
New LibGuides
In honor of the Day of Languages of the People of Kazakhstan, the library has published a new LibGuide: Same Question, Different Sources: A Guide to Multilingual Research. It walks students and researchers through comparing Kazakh, Russian, and English sources on the same topic, covering search engine and database choice by language, credibility checks for multilingual and machine-translated material, and APA 7 citation for non-Latin-script sources. A consultation session has been built around the guide, and a librarian is always ready to walk you through it individually: reach out to schedule a session whenever you need one.
NU Library is pleased to introduce a new LibGuide: Persistent Identifiers (PID): Persistent Identifiers for Objects.
Persistent Identifiers are long-lasting digital references that uniquely identify people, publications, datasets, organizations, and other research objects. Normally, if a website updates its link, you get a frustrating "404 Page Not Found" error. A Persistent Identifier fixes this by acting like a permanent address that never breaks, no matter where a file or person moves on the internet. Explore this new LibGuide to learn how PIDs keep your research findable, connected, and permanent.
Persistent Identifiers are long-lasting digital references that uniquely identify people, publications, datasets, organizations, and other research objects. Normally, if a website updates its link, you get a frustrating "404 Page Not Found" error. A Persistent Identifier fixes this by acting like a permanent address that never breaks, no matter where a file or person moves on the internet. Explore this new LibGuide to learn how PIDs keep your research findable, connected, and permanent.
The A-Z Databases & Tools list (library.nu.edu.kz) includes resources of particular interest to language and linguistics research, among them the ACL Anthology (open access papers on computational linguistics and natural language processing), the Oxford English Dictionary (now searchable through OUP's AI-assisted discovery tools), Cambridge eBooks (with a strong English language learning and teaching collection), Credo Reference (dictionaries, thesauri, and encyclopedias across languages and subjects), and JSTOR's archive of language and literature journals. The full A-Z list can be filtered by subject, including a Literature & Languages category, to browse further.
Spotlight on NU Scholarship
Another Open Access article has been published by a Master student in Public Health Alpamys Shaldarbek together with School of Medicine Professors - Dr. Joseph Almazan and Dr. Ejercito Mangawa Balay-odao in the Journal of Nursing Management - “Nurses’ Roles in Supporting Mental Health Among Preoperative Cardiac Patients in Kazakhstan”, shows how nurses help patients cope with anxiety, depression, and fear before heart surgery. The study shows that empathetic conversation, clear information sharing, and even storytelling are powerful strategies to ease distress, while cultural stigma and limited training remain challenges. Thanks to the library’s transformative agreement, the Article Processing Charges (APC) was fully covered, so that this important research is freely accessible worldwide. This is just one example of how our research support librarians can help the NU community publish openly, manage APC coverage, and increase the visibility of NU scholarship.
Library Research Support Services
Library Research Support Office helps guide our NU community through the entire research lifecycle - from searching relevant resources to refine your topic, to selecting appropriate journals for publishing, and navigating the publishing process.
Library Highlights & Events
NU Librarians have co-authored a feature article published in Times Higher Education Campus+ on how university libraries can better support researchers in navigating the open research landscape. The article, “Why librarians should organise open research support around researchers, not services,” explores how libraries can make research support more accessible by organising guidance around the questions and decisions researchers face throughout the research lifecycle, rather than around individual library services.
The article was authored by Asemgul Temirkhanova, Library Director; Yelizaveta Kamilova, Head of the Library Research Support Office; and Research Librarians Lazzat Arystanova and Ainash Yeleussizova.
The article was authored by Asemgul Temirkhanova, Library Director; Yelizaveta Kamilova, Head of the Library Research Support Office; and Research Librarians Lazzat Arystanova and Ainash Yeleussizova.
Upcoming Events
The Reading Marathon is underway!
From September 2026 to March 2027, the national reading marathon “Reading Nation” brings together readers from across Kazakhstan.
Throughout September, NU community members had the opportunity to register in the “Reading University” and “Reading Intellectual” categories.
We wish all registered NU participants an inspiring reading journey and the best of luck!
From September 2026 to March 2027, the national reading marathon “Reading Nation” brings together readers from across Kazakhstan.
Throughout September, NU community members had the opportunity to register in the “Reading University” and “Reading Intellectual” categories.
We wish all registered NU participants an inspiring reading journey and the best of luck!
Join our book discussion and share your favorite books and the stories that have made a difference in your life. Prepare a short presentation, essay, or talk about a book that inspires you, brings comfort, helps you navigate life, or simply sparks your love of reading.
Nazarbayev University Library is delighted to join the global academic community in celebrating International Open Access Week 2026, held on October 19-23 under the theme “The Cost of Knowledge.”
The Teaching and Learning Support Office in the #NULibrary cordially invites all NU students to take part in an essay competition held as part of Global Media and Information Literacy Week, celebrated by UNESCO. This year’s theme set by UNESCO is “Media for All: Everyone Plays a Part.” Students from all majors and years of study are welcome to participate!
Recent Events
The NU Library recently hosted and participated in a range of professional development and research support activities, bringing together colleagues to share knowledge, strengthen skills, and improve library services.
NU Library Colleagues Participate in the “She Leads” Program and Share Leadership Insights
NU Library recently hosted a Professional Development Hour, bringing librarians together to explore leadership, professional growth, and the role of information specialists. The session was led by Yelizaveta Kamilova, Head of the Research Support Office; Venera Niyazbayeva, Teaching and Learning Librarian, TLSO; and Galiya Bekenova, Manager of the Patron Services Office, who recently completed Nazarbayev University’s “She Leads” Women in Leadership Programme, delivered in partnership with the UK-based Advance HE.
A Professional Development Session on Digital Accessibility
On Friday, September 11, a professional development session on digital accessibility was delivered by Ziyat Abdykaimov, Expert Manager for Assistive Technologies and Accessibility at NU Library and a member of the NU Special Learning Needs Committee. Hosted for the Marketing Office and open to all interested colleagues, the workshop covered key standards for accessible web and social media content, highlighted the responsibilities of content managers and SMM specialists, and featured a live review of accessibility issues on the main NU website alongside an open Q&A.
Same Question, Different Answers: Comparing Sources Across Languages and Platforms
NU Library organized an interactive session examining how language and research platforms influence the information we find. Participants explored real-world comparisons of search engines, academic databases, citation systems, and AI-generated summaries, gaining insights into the strengths and limitations of each approach. The session offered practical techniques for creating effective multilingual search strategies, identifying gaps in literature reviews, and critically assessing information across Kazakh, Russian, and English sources.
3 Minute Thesis Competition Workshop
NU Doctoral Institute and NU Library hosted a workshop to help researchers communicate complex research in a clear, engaging, and impactful way. Participants explored practical techniques for simplifying research, strengthening presentations, and making their work memorable to a wider audience - whether preparing for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition or simply building confidence in research communication.
Professional Development Hour: Qualitative Analysis with NVivo: Beginner Level
NU Library Research Support staff took part in a beginner-level session on qualitative analysis with NVivo, organized as part of ongoing professional development and experience sharing. The session provided an opportunity for colleagues to develop practical skills and exchange knowledge on using NVivo for qualitative research.
On September 10, the Library ran an embedded session for EDML 602: Academic Literacies for Multilingual Education Professionals, the MA in Multilingual Education course taught by Bridget Goodman. The workshop was led by Venera Niyazbayeva, NU Library’s Teaching and Learning Librarian and herself an alumna of the same MA program.
Students worked with their own emerging thesis topics, from shadow education and EMI to translanguaging, trilingual education policy, AI in language learning and multilingual dormitory life. They practiced concept mapping, Boolean operators, truncation and wildcards, moved between NU Library Search, ProQuest, ERIC and other databases, applied TRAAP, SIFT and BEAM to evaluate sources, and tried the Library’s Information Literacy Reflection Tool (ILRT), an AI-based research coach currently in development.
Students worked with their own emerging thesis topics, from shadow education and EMI to translanguaging, trilingual education policy, AI in language learning and multilingual dormitory life. They practiced concept mapping, Boolean operators, truncation and wildcards, moved between NU Library Search, ProQuest, ERIC and other databases, applied TRAAP, SIFT and BEAM to evaluate sources, and tried the Library’s Information Literacy Reflection Tool (ILRT), an AI-based research coach currently in development.
Webinars by Publishers
On September 16, Oxford Academic held a webinar on the publisher's new AI-assisted discovery tools. The session introduced the AI Discovery Assistant, which lets researchers search Oxford's 500+ journals and 50,000+ books using natural-language questions instead of exact keyword matches, returning curated results with concise AI-generated summaries. It also covered the AI-powered search assistant built into the Oxford English Dictionary, designed specifically for humanities research: it answers plain-language questions about word origins, usage, and the historical development of English and guides users directly to relevant advanced-search results. The session was open to researchers across the humanities and beyond.
The OED portion connected naturally to this month's Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan: a tool built around tracing how individual words shift and acquire meaning over time is a fitting companion to a theme centered on how languages carry meaning differently.
Anyone who missed the live session can still explore the OED search tools on their own; Oxford's own Getting started guide walks through the interface step by step.
The OED portion connected naturally to this month's Day of Languages of the Peoples of Kazakhstan: a tool built around tracing how individual words shift and acquire meaning over time is a fitting companion to a theme centered on how languages carry meaning differently.
Anyone who missed the live session can still explore the OED search tools on their own; Oxford's own Getting started guide walks through the interface step by step.
Behind the Peer Review Report: Best Practices for Reviewers and Insights for Authors
NU Library hosted a Wiley publisher webinar dedicated to understanding the peer review process and its role in scholarly publishing. The session provided practical guidance for researchers interested in becoming effective peer reviewers, covering best practices for evaluating manuscripts and delivering constructive, meaningful feedback.
Participants also gained valuable insights into the authors’ perspective, learning how peer review reports help strengthen research, enhance manuscript quality, and improve publication outcomes. The webinar highlighted the importance of thoughtful, ethical, and constructive peer review in maintaining the quality and integrity of academic literature.
Participants also gained valuable insights into the authors’ perspective, learning how peer review reports help strengthen research, enhance manuscript quality, and improve publication outcomes. The webinar highlighted the importance of thoughtful, ethical, and constructive peer review in maintaining the quality and integrity of academic literature.
Service Update & Policy Reminder
Ask a Librarian
You are welcome to ask a quick question to a librarian.
The following times correspond to the on-duty hours of the Teaching and Learning Support Office and the Library Research Support Office:
- TLSO: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (Tuesday-Wednesday)
- LRSO: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Tuesday-Wednesday)
Walk up to get practical, hands-on help without booking an appointment.
In a few minutes, we can help you with:
· Finding resources (full-text articles, eBooks, journals, databases)
· Basic search (Primo, keywords, filters, Boolean operators)
· Research basics (citation tools, advanced search, how to find sources on a topic)
· Open Access publishing and APC funding
· Research data management fundamentals
· Basic guidance on publication strategies and avoiding predatory journals
· Copyright, author rights, and self-archiving options
Visit the library 2nd floor to speed up your learning and research!
Contributors of This Edition
- Dina BaiseitManager
Patron Services Office - Madina AbdykaimovaSenior Manager
Patron Services Office - Venera NiyazbayevaTeaching and Learning Librarian
- Lazzat ArystanovaSenior Manager
Research Support Office - Zhuldyz OrazymbetovaHead
Patron Services Office
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https://www.amazon.ae/Frequency-Dictionary-Mandarin-Chinese-Vocabulary/dp/0415601061
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https://www.amazon.com/dp/1934000191?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1684602.Language_Learning_Strategies
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13694581-points-de-d-part
https://www.amazon.ae/Frequency-Dictionary-Mandarin-Chinese-Vocabulary/dp/0415601061
https://www.routledge.com/Colloquial-Cantonese-The-Complete-Course-for-Beginners/Bourgerie-Tong-James/p/book/9781138958227
https://uhpress.hawaii.edu/title/integrated-korean-beginning-2-second-edition/
https://www.tuttlepublishing.com/language-books/arabic/arabic-stories-for-language-learners-paperback-with-disc
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Turkish-Beginner-Intermediate-Course/dp/1444102397
https://www.abebooks.com/Dictionary-Turkic-Languages-English-Azerbaijani-Kazakh/31638112521/bd
© 2026 NU Library